Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a cancer of blood cells, characterized by the replacement of bone marrow malignancy, leukemic cells. Many of these leukemic cells can be found in the blood and can cause enlargement of the spleen, liver and other organs.
CML is usually diagnosed by finding a specific chromosomal abnormality called the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome (see figure), named after the city where it was first recorded. The Ph chromosome is the result of a transfer or exchange of genetic material between the long arm of chromosomes 9 and 22. This exchange brings together two genes: the BCR (breakpoint cluster region) gene on chromosome 22 and the proto-oncogene ABL (Ableson leukemia virus) on chromosome 9. The hybrid gene BCR-ABL encodes a fusion protein with tyrosine kinase activity which activates pathways of signal transduction, leading to uncontrolled cell growth.
A mouse model was created, which develops a disease such as CML-in bone marrow and cells infected with a virus containing the gene BCR-ABL. In other animal models, the fusion proteins were shown to transform precursor cells of normal blood cells malignant. For research of human diseases, antisense oligomers (short DNA segments) which block BCR-ABL has been specially designed to prevent the formation of leukemic cells without affecting bone marrow cells of normal development. These and other experimental techniques May lead to future treatments for CML.
Postingan
Posting Komentar